Fire extinguisher system



Feb. 2, 1954 s. T. STACK 2,667,933

FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM Filed June 2, 1949 INVE TOR 6 light. T f source of water-Supply] under pressure ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 2, 1954 q UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM Spencer T. Stack, Merrick, N. Y.

Application June 2, 1949, Serial No. 96,632

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a fire extinguishing system, and especially to a fire extinguishing system for use in unheated structures orthe like.

At present, it is common practice to protect structures of this type by means of a so-called dry pipe system. As is well known, such systems comprise a header leading from a source of water under pressure and extending substantially throughout the length of the structure, a multiplicity of branch pipes which open from the header and which are provided with a plurality of sprinkler units, and a control valve interposed between the header and each of the branch pipes which serve normally to prevent the inflow of water from the header to the branch pipes.

The control valves employed in such systems are generally one of two types, one being known as a deluge valve and the other as a dry pipe valve. A deluge valve is mechanically locked in closed position and it is automatically tripped in case of fire by any suitable means such as a heat responsive arrangement disposed throughout the structure to be protected. When dry pipe valves are employed they are generally held in closed position by means of air pressure maintained in the branch pipes, the sprinkler units in this case being maintained closed by fusible elements. When one or more of the fusible elements melt as a result of a fire in the structure and the associated sprinkler units open, the resultant decrease of air pressure in the branch pipe which feeds these units allows the control valve interposed between the header and this branch pipe to open.

When a control valve is open Whether it be a deluge valve or a dry pipe valve, water is forced into the branch pipe controlled thereby and into the sprinkler units from whence it is discharged in the form of a spray through those that are open to extinguish the fire.

While systems of this sort present many advantages, they are open to the objection that they are extremely costly to install and maintain due primarily to the fact that the header must be insulated and the control valves housed in heated rooms to prevent freezing. In addition, they are objectionable in that if the valves stick as is frequently the case, the system remains ineffective.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a system wherein the above noted as well as other objections are obviated. To these ends, the header as well as the branch pipes are maintained dry and a plurality of control valves which may be housed in a single heated room are interposed between the source of water under pressure and the entrance end of the header. In addition, a plurality of means is provided for efiecting the operation of these valves in case of fire together with means responsive to the operation of one valve for automatically eifecting the operation of the remainder of the valves.

For a more complete description of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing. In this drawing, however, the invention has been shown merely by way of example and in preferred form, but obviously many variso far as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing- Fig. 1 is an illustrative view of a structure showing the general arrangement of the improved system.

Fig. 2 is an elevation on an enlarged scale and partly broken away showing the control valves employed in the system.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is an elevation on the same scale as Fig. 2 and partly broken away showing an alternative arrangement of control valves.

The improved system, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1 includes a header II] which extends substantially throughout the length of the structure II to be protected. At spaced intervals, branch pipes 12 open from the header Iii. Each branch pipe 12 is provided with a plurality of sprinkler units I 3 which are normally maintained closed by fusible elements (not shown) in the mannerwell understood in the art. At its entrance end, the header lll is connected to a source of water under pressure through the medium of a pair of control valves ill, l5 disposed in parallel relationship in a pipe ring arrangement l6 housed in a heated room H.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the control valves M, 55 are of the type that are normally maintained closed by air pressure to prevent the inflow of water from the source into the header [0. As is well known, such valves are divided into two compartments l8, l9 by ahingedly mounted clapper member or pressure nected thereto by an intermediate tapered member 22 carried by the larger clapper member or pressure valve 20, the arrangement of parts. being such that a relatively low pressure in the air pressure compartment [8 is sufficient tomaintain both clapper members 20, 2| in closed position 4 are forced open by the pressure of the water from the source of supply. When both the pressure valves and water valves 29, 2| are thus forced open the control valves l4, [5 are rendered operative to deliver water into the header It and possibly into the branch pipes l2 until further flow of water is prevented by the back pressure in the header and branch pipes. Thereafter, when one or more of the sprinkler units open water is discharged therefrom to extinguish the fire. Again, it is evident that in the event one of the control valves It, It sticks, the other is against the water pressure exerted against the smaller clapper member 2|.

In the event, however, that one or more of the sprinkler units 'l3, connected to any one of the several branch pipes I? open. as a result of fire in the structure, the air escapes therethrough and the pressure in this branch pipe, the header l0 and the air pressure compartments H3 in both valves l4, i5 is reduced. When. the pressure in the compartments [8 is thus reduced, both. the pressure valve and the water valve. 20, 2t in each control valve are forced open and water flows through both control valves, through the header, through the branch pipe and into. the sprinkler units from whence it is discharged through those that are open to extinguish the fire. It is to be noted that each of the branch pipes I2 is provided with a check valve 23 which prevents the flow of air from the branch pipes it back into the header [0. In consequence, the" flow of water through the system is speeded up because if these check valves were not present the air in branch pipes !2 whose sprinkler units remained unaffected would have to bev forced outwardly through the open sprinkler units.

From the above, it is seen that a, dual control system is provided, and the arrangement is suchthat if one of the valves sticks, the other operates. Thus the element of safety and protection is increased accordingly.

As a further measure to increase the safety and protection of the system, supplementary means are provided to effect the opening of the. control valves [4, H3 in case of fire in. the structure. Accordingly, each of the control the valves l4, i5 is provided with a pipe 24 which leads from the water pressure side of the water valve 2| to the water pressure compartment IS on the otherside of this water valve. Each pipe 24 is provided with a by-pass valve 25. which is normally maintained closed but which is capable of being opened by any suitable means such as a smoke detecting or a rate-of-rise heat responsive device 26 disposed throughout the structure. Since such devices are well known, a description thereof and their mode of operation is notdeemed necessary other than to say that in the present embodiment of the in,- vention the device whether it be a smoke detecting device or a rate-of-rise heat responsive device is set to operate the by-pass valve 25 before the sprinkler units are rendered operative.

When the by-pass valves 25 are operated, water under pressure is delivered into the water pressure compartments l9 with the result that the pressure valves 26 are forced open due to the increase in pressure exerted thereon by this water.

When the pressure valves are thus forced open, the pressures tending to hold. the water valves,

21 are relieved with the resultthat these valves free to function.

As a further measure to insure the operation of the valves, across pipe 30 is provided between the two water pressure compartments [9 of the two control valves [4, l5 and check valves 3| are interposed between the entrance end of the header I 0 and the two air pressure compartments 18. In the event one or the other of the two pressure valves 20 fail to open water under pressure is delivered in the water pressure chamber IS on one side thereof but is prevented by the check valves 3I- from entering the air pressure chamber I8 on the other side thereof. Since this pressure is exerted over a relatively large surface area this pressure valve 20 will be forced open and when it does the pressure on the water valve 2| is relieved and it too is forced open by the pressure exerted by the water from the source of supply.

As a further feature of the invention, the connecting pipe 36 may be provided with a signal device 35 controlled by the water how in said pipe and adapted to cause an alarm to be sounded locally or in a central station.

While control valves of the pressure operated type have been described, other type valves or combinations thereof may be employed. For example, in Fig. 4- there are shown a pressure operated valve 36 and a deluge valve El which are arranged in parallel relationship in a pipe ring 38 interposed between the source of water under pressure and the entrance end of the header if). The deluge valve 3? is normally maintained closed by a mechanically locked latch 39 adapted and arranged tobe operated to open the valve by asmoke detecting device or a rate-of-rise temperature responsive device til. As in the previously described arrangement if one valve sticks the other is free to operate. Also, as in the previously described arrangement a cross is provided between the deluge valve 3? and the water pressure chamber 19 of the other valve so that in the event the deluge valve 3? opens and the other valve sticks, water under pressure will be. delivered from the deluge valve 37 to the water pressure chamber l9 of the other valve to open it in the manner explained heretofore.

From the above, it should now be clear that the construction and arrangement of parts which control the water supply in the improved system is such that the equivalent of two complete systems is provided with but one set of piping and sprinkler units with the result that at minimum expense the possibility of failure in case of fire is reduced to a minimum.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In or for a fire extinguishing system, the combination of a source of water under pressure, a header containing air under pressure, a pair of control valves positioned in parallel relationship leading from the source of water to the header, a water valve in each of said control valves adapted when closed to prevent the flow of water therethrough from said source, a pressure valve also positioned in one of said control valves in spaced relationship to the water valve therein and operable by the pressure of the air in the header to maintain said. water valve closed, a lock to maintain the Water valve closed in the other of said control valves, means responsive to a product of combustion for reducing the pressure of the air in the header to allow the pressure valve and the water valve in one of said control valves to open, means responsive to a product of combustion for releasing said lock to allow the water valve in the other of said control valves to open, and a pipe leading from the compartment between the water valve and the pressure valve in one of said control valves to a compartment on the dry side of the water valve in the other of said control valves whereby water under pressure may be forced from one to the other of said compartments in the event one of said water valves fails to open.

2. A combination according to claim 1, including a warning device in said pipe controlled by the pressure of the water flowing therethrough.

3. In or for a fire extinguishing system, the combination of a supply of water under pressure, a series or sealed sprinkler units, a header to supply water to the sprinkler units, two control valves positioned in parallel relationship leading from the source of water to the header, a water valve in each of said control valves to normally prevent the flow of water therethrough, a pressure valve in each of said control valves of greater area than the Water valve, said pressure valves being normally maintained closed by fluid pressure in the header and serving to maintain the water valves closed, an intermediate compartment between the water valve and the pressure valve in each of said control valves, and a pipe leading from one to the other of said compartments, the arrangement being such that, in the event of fire, certain of the sprinkler heads are opened and the pressur on the pressure valves decreased, permitting both the Water and the pressure valves in each of the control valves to open, and, if a pressure valve in one of the control valves fails to open, water pressure will be made available from the other control valve through the pipe to force it open.

e. A combination according to claim 3, including as a separate element control means disassociated with the header whereby the operation of the control valves may be independently effected.

5. A combination aCcOrdlng to claim 3, including one-way check valves between the pressure valves and the header to prevent water from entering the compartment above the pressure valve in the event one fails to open.

6. In or for a fire extinguishing system, the combination or a supply of water under pressure, a series of scaled sprinkler units, a header to supply water to the sprinkler units, a plurality of control valves connecting the water supply to the header, a Water valve in each of the control valves to normally prevent the flow of water therethrough, a pressure valve in each of the control valves of greater area than the water valve, said pressure valve being normally maintained closed by air pressure and, when closed, serving to maintain the water valve closed, an intermediate compartment between said pressure and water valves, a pipe leading from the compartment in one of the control valves to the compartment in the other of the control valves, a by-pass around the water valve in one of the control valves, a by-pass valve in said by-pass, and fire detecting means independent of the sealed sprinkler units adapted to open the bypass valve in the event of fire, and thus permit the flow of water from said source into said compartments to force the pressure valves open to allow the flow of water therethrough into the header.

' SPENCER T. STACK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

